PROLOGUE

•ROSHNI•

"Haan haan Maa... bas pandrah minute mein pahunch rahe hain."

("Yes, yes, Maa... we'll reach in just fifteen minutes.")

I smiled as I held my phone to my ear, my gaze fixed on the dark, deserted road stretching endlessly outside the cab window.

"Be careful, Roshni. Don't stop the car for anyone... and don't eat or drink anything anyone offers you...Zamana bahut kharab hai, beta."

Yeah...As if I'm innocent maa.

I smiled helplessly.

"I know, Maa." I rolled my eyes playfully. "You're saying this for the twelfth time now."

Her mother( Rekha) huffed from the other end.

"I'll say it a hundred times if I have to."

I couldn't help but smile even wider, warmth spreading through my heart at her concern.

"Okay, Maa,weI'll be there soon."

"Good."

"Bye."

"Bye, beta, come soon we are waiting."

The call disconnected.

I lowered my phone into my lap and leaned my head against the cool window.

My eyes drifted outside.

I inhaled softly.

The night was unusually dark.

A thick blanket of clouds had swallowed the moon, leaving only the cab's headlights to cut through the endless darkness ahead.

On either side of the narrow road, tall trees stood motionless, their shadows stretching across the empty fields like silent figures watching us pass.

I don't know why but for some reason,tonight felt different while a strange uneasiness settled deep inside me.

I couldn't explain it.

Maybe it was because of this deadly silence,

The kind of silence that made every passing second feel louder since the road was completely deserted.

Or maybe...

It was simply because I was going home.

My Home.

The place where I had spent my entire childhood... a place that could wrap me in warmth one moment and another moment leave an unexplainable chill crawling down my spine.

The place that awakes the ghosts of memories I wished to forget.

It's been two weeks...well two weeks wasn't a long time though.

But for me, it somehow felt like months.

I missed Maa's endless lectures.

I missed bhaiya and baba pretending to be strict while secretly slipping extra sweets onto my plate.

I missed the familiar noise of my haveli, the aroma of food coming from the kitchen, and the sound of people calling my name every five minutes.

Everyone must be waiting for me.

Maa had probably cooked half the kitchen just because I was coming home.

Knowing her, she must have prepared every single one of my favourite dishes.

I could already imagine bhabhi fussing over me the moment I stepped inside.

A small smile touched my lips.

I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself and continued staring out of the window.

The farther the cab drove, the heavier the darkness seemed to become.

Still...something about tonight didn't feel right.

I just couldn't tell what it was.

A faint shiver ran down my spine.

Beside me, Divya was scrolling through the hundreds of photos we'd clicked in Mumbai, smiling to herself.

"You know," she said without looking up, "your family has no idea their 'college camper' has spent the last two weeks shopping, fangirling over authors, and emptying her bank account in Mumbai."

I smirked. "And they never will."

I was pretty sure baba would faint if he ever saw the bill.

A mischievous grin crept onto my face.

Good thing he never would.

Some secrets were simply meant to stay secrets.

I still remembered standing in the front row, screaming like a complete fangirl when the author walked onto the stage.

Dignity?

I had left that somewhere near the entrance.

Divya had recorded the entire disaster on her phone and had been threatening to blackmail me with those videos for the rest of my life.

I smiled to myself.

Then there was the endless shopping that my suitcase had gone to Mumbai half-empty...Not It was returning so full that I had to sit on it just to close the zip.

With so many books that my shoulders still hurt from carrying them around.

And...

A handbag I definitely didn't need along with a perfume that cost far more than my monthly allowance.

Worth it.

Every.

Single.

Rupee.

I glanced at Divya, who was still busy scrolling through the pictures and videos we'd taken.

"We look gorgeous," I declared proudly.

Divya didn't even look up.

"You look gorgeous too"

I flipped my hair dramatically.

"Tell me something I don't know."

She finally looked at me and snorted.

"The confidence."

I lifted my chin with an exaggerated smile.

"It's self-awareness."

Divya snorted.

I grinned.

Life was too short to be boring.

I turned my face slightly towards the window again.

The village was still fifteen minutes away.

Not a single vehicle had passed us for the last several minutes.

It was oddly quiet.

Too quiet.

Without realizing it, I rubbed my palms together.

A strange feeling settled in my chest again.

Not fear...

Just...An uneasy feeling.

As if the night was hiding something or worse waiting for something.

I frowned at my own thoughts.

"Seriously Roshni, get a grip" I muttered under my breath. "You need to stop reading thriller novels."

Still...

For reasons I couldn't explain...I couldn't bring myself to look away from the darkness outside.

_______________

The cab came to a slow stop right in front of the haveli.

For a moment...

I just sat there.

Home.

A smile slowly spread across my face.

The driver quickly got out and opened the door for us.I adjusted my handbag, and stepped out of the cab.

The cool night breeze brushed against my face, carrying the familiar smell of wet soil, blooming jasmine, burning firewood, and delicious food being cooked inside.

I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath.

No matter where I travelled...Nothing in this world could ever smell like home.

When I opened my eyes, they immediately found the one place that had been waiting for me all along.

Our haveli.

Standing proudly beneath the stormy night sky, it looked just as magnificent as it had for generations.

The towering sandstone walls rose high into the darkness, while rows of golden lanterns cast a warm glow over the old mansion. The massive carved wooden gates stood wide open, and the long verandas stretched across the entire haveli like welcoming arms.

Every balcony...

Every pillar...

Every beautifully carved arch had been crafted by hand decades ago, giving the haveli a timeless royal charm that no modern palace could ever match.

To the people of the nearby villages, it was known as the Sarpanch's Haveli.

To tourists who happened to pass by, it looked like a forgotten royal palace.

To me...

It was simply my home.

The haveli was buzzing with life.

Servants rushed from one corner to another carrying brass utensils, steaming pots, baskets filled with fresh vegetables, and trays loaded with sweets.

Laughter echoed through the courtyard, while the mouthwatering aroma of desi ghee, roasted spices, and freshly prepared food drifted through the cool night air.

I couldn't help but smile.

"Maa has definitely cooked enough food to feed half the district."

Divya came to stand beside me.

Even though this wasn't her first visit, she reacted exactly the same way every single time.

Her eyes slowly travelled over the towering balconies, the glowing lanterns, the carved pillars, and the grand wooden entrance.

For a few seconds...

She simply stood there, staring.

Almost forgetting to breathe.

A smirk played on my lips.

"Planning to spend the whole night standing at the gate?"

She blinked and finally looked at me.

"I swear, Roshni..."

She shook her head in amazement.

"I've seen this haveli so many times... but somehow it looks even more beautiful every time I come here."

I folded my arms with a proud smile.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

A soft laugh escaped her lips.

Then...

Without even realizing it...

My eyes slowly drifted upwards.

Past the glowing balconies.

Past the rows of flickering lanterns.

Past the carved arches.

Until they rested on the highest corner of the haveli.

The old tower.

I didn't know why...

But that corner had never felt like the rest of the haveli.

A single golden lantern burned quietly outside its carved wooden window, its flame swaying gently with the night breeze.

It should have made that place feel warm.

Safe.

Instead...

It only made the silence around it feel heavier.

Everything looked perfectly normal.

The lantern was burning.

The window was shut.

Nothing seemed out of place.

Yet every time my eyes fell on that tower...

The same strange feeling settled deep inside me.

As if the air around that corner was different.

Still.

Heavier.

Quieter.

As if that forgotten part of the haveli had been waiting for me.

As if it was trying to tell me something...

Something important.

But no matter how many times I looked at it...

I could never understand what.

A cold shiver slowly ran down my spine.

I tore my gaze away and forced myself to smile.

"You're overthinking again, Roshni," I scolded myself silently.

But even as I walked towards the entrance...

I couldn't shake the feeling that the old tower had watched me come home.

The moment I stepped inside, Maa wrapped me in one of her warm hugs, holding me as if I had been away for years instead of just two weeks.

The next few minutes passed in a blur.

Just as I had expected, Maa looked at me from head to toe before declaring that I had become "too thin."

I insisted that I'd actually gained weight, but convincing her was as impossible as stopping the sun from rising. In the end, I simply gave up and let her believe whatever made her happy.

Baba wasn't home.

Apparently, an urgent matter had come up in one of the neighbouring villages, and he had to leave immediately after dinner preparations had begun.

Maa assured me that he would be back by morning, although I had a feeling the first thing he'd do after returning would be ask me a hundred questions about my "college camp."

That thought alone made me quietly pray that Divya wouldn't accidentally reveal the truth before then.

Bhai and Bhabhi helped us with our luggage and laughed when they saw how many bags I had brought back. Thankfully, she didn't ask too many questions.

I wasn't sure how I would explain why a simple college camp required enough shopping bags to open a small boutique.

And by the time dinner was over, it was already well past midnight.

The roads were dark, and Divya's house was nearly half an hour away from the haveli. There was no question of letting her leave alone at that hour.

Maa insisted she stay the night, and after a little hesitation, Divya agreed

                 _____________

Almost an hour later...

The haveli had finally fallen silent.

The cheerful laughter that had echoed through the courtyard during dinner had faded away.

Most of the servants had retired to their quarters, the kitchen fires had died down, and only a handful of golden lanterns continued to burn along the long verandas, their flames dancing gently in the cool night breeze.

Inside my room, everything felt peaceful.

I had changed into my favourite oversized T-shirt and loose pyjamas, my hair tied into a messy bun that looked as if it had completely given up on life.

Divya had made herself comfortable on my bed as if she owned the room, scrolling through my phone while I sat cross-legged on the couch, opening shopping bags one after another.

"I still can't believe we actually met her," Divya said, smiling as she scrolled through the phone.

A soft laugh escaped my lips.

"I know."

We had waited for that book launch for months.

And somehow...

It was already over.

Just then, the ringtone of Divya's phone broke the silence.

She glanced at the screen.

"Maa."

I nodded towards the balcony.

"I'll give you some privacy."

She smiled before answering the call.

"Hello, Maa..."

Quietly, I slid the balcony door open and stepped outside.

The cool night breeze instantly brushed against my face, making the loose strands of my hair dance in the wind.

I wrapped my arms around myself and looked out.

The entire village had fallen asleep.

The distant fields had disappeared beneath a blanket of darkness.

Above me, thick clouds had swallowed the moon, leaving only a few golden lanterns around the haveli to fight against the night.

I rested my hands on the stone railing.

For a moment...

Everything felt peaceful.

Calm.

Silent.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply.

Then..

Almost on their own, my eyes wandered towards the highest corner of the haveli.

The old tower.

The same lantern was still burning outside its carved wooden window.

Its golden flame swayed gently with every passing breeze.

Nothing had changed.

The window was still closed.

The light still flickered softly.

Everything looked completely normal.

And yet...

My heartbeat slowed.

Not with peace.

With unease.

I couldn't explain it.

There was something about that tower...Something that always made me uncomfortable.

As if it had been patiently waiting...

For someone.

A knot formed in my stomach.

I couldn't look away.

Without realizing it, I found myself staring at that window for far longer than I should have.

It felt...Wrong.

As though someone stood just behind that closed dark window.

Watching.

Waiting.

My heartbeat quickened.

The idea was ridiculous.

I knew it was.

Still...A chill ran down my spine.

"Get a grip, Roshni," I muttered under my breath with a nervous smile."It's just an old room."

Tearing my gaze away, I turned and stepped back inside.

I slid the balcony door shut behind me.

Divya was still talking to her mother, completely lost in the conversation.

I let out a slow breath.

Maybe I really was overthinking.

Maybe it was just the late hour...

Or perhaps all those mystery novels I'd been reading lately had finally started messing with my head.

Trying to push the uneasy feeling aside, I turned towards my bed.

Suddenly...

A strange sensation crawled across the back of my neck.

The unmistakable feeling...

That someone was staring at me.

My footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

Slowly...

Almost against my own will...

My eyes lifted and settled on the bedroom door.

It remained firmly shut.

Still.

Silent.

Exactly the way it had been a few seconds ago, there wasn't a single sound from the other side.

But for some reason, I couldn't take my eyes off it.

The room suddenly felt unnaturally quiet.

Even the sound of Divya talking on the phone seemed to fade into the background.

All I could hear was the loud thumping of my own heart.

A strange uneasiness settled deep inside my chest.

It felt...As though someone was standing just outside my room.

Not knocking.

Just...

Standing there.

Watching.

The feeling was so strong that I could see someone's shadow lingering behind the wooden door.

A cold shiver slowly travelled down my spine.

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly feeling dry.

Behind me, Divya finally ended her call.

Without paying much attention to me, she casually tossed her phone onto the bed, stretched her arms lazily,completely absorbed in her own world as though nothing in the world could possibly be wrong.

She had absolutely no idea...that every instinct inside me was screaming that we weren't alone.

The feeling intensified.

The feeling of being watched, I can feel eyes on me.

Following my every movement.

My eyes remained fixed on the door.

I couldn't blink.

I couldn't move.

This strange feeling only grew stronger with every passing second.

It was almost as if...Whoever was standing outside knew, that I know he were there.

Without realizing it, my feet began moving.

The old wooden floor creaked softly beneath my feet.

My fingers trembled as I reached for the brass handle.

It felt strangely cold against my skin.

I tightened my grip and took a deep breath.

I pulled the door open.

Silence.

The long veranda outside lay completely empty.

Golden lanterns flickered gently along the carved pillars, their light dancing across the stone floor.

No one.

Not a single soul.

Only the sound of the wind passing through the corridors of the old haveli.

"...Hello?" I called out, barely above a whisper, my voice echoed through the empty hallway, "Is anyone there?"

No response

I frowned.

Had I really imagined everything?

Just as I was about to close the door...

Something near my feet caught my attention.

A folded piece of paper.

It lay silently on the floor, right in front of my room.

My heartbeat stopped for a second.

I was certain It hadn't been there before.

With trembling fingers, I slowly bent down and picked it up.

The paper felt cold,almost damp.

I carefully unfolded it.

The moment my eyes fell on the hurried, uneven handwriting,It felt as though the ground beneath my feet had disappeared.

**Run away... He is coming.**

______________________________